NEW YORK — Distinguished Programs, a national insurance program administrator, has announced the launch of its Commercial Surety division, marking a significant expansion of its Surety program. The new division, led by industry veteran Miguel Ferreira, joins the Contract Surety unit introduced in 2024 and is expected to begin underwriting in the second quarter of this year.
The Commercial Surety division will offer customized bonding solutions for a wide range of industries. These bonds, often mandated by government agencies or regulatory bodies, help ensure legal compliance, safeguard public interests and reduce the risk of fraud or misconduct.
Ferreira, who brings 25 years of experience in the surety market, will serve as president and head of the division. He is joined by Brian Peters, who will serve as vice president. Together, they bring deep expertise and a track record of delivering results in the commercial surety space.
“We’re proud to welcome Miguel and Brian to Distinguished,” said Steve Sitterly, Chief Operating Officer at Distinguished. “Miguel is a standout leader in the surety industry with the experience, vision and relationships to build a top-tier commercial surety operation. His leadership will be a driving force in the success of this division.”
“Launching this division is a tremendous opportunity, and I’m honored to lead the effort,” Ferreira said. “We’re focused on building a high-performing commercial surety team that is dedicated to offering great service and truly understands the needs of our agents and clients. With strong support from American Surety and the existing Distinguished contract surety team, we’re ready to bring a competitive, responsive and trusted offering to market.”
“We’ve built a strong foundation in contract surety, and the addition of Miguel allows us to extend that same level of focus and excellence into commercial surety,” added Trevor Hash Sr., president of Distinguished’s Surety program. “It’s a natural next step for our program, and one we’re thrilled to take with leaders like Miguel and Brian.”
The division will be backed by American Surety, a wholly owned subsidiary of Core Specialty Insurance Holdings, Inc., which also supports Distinguished’s Contract Surety unit—representing a deepening of the companies’ existing relationship.
The Surety program complements Distinguished’s portfolio of specialty insurance offerings, which includes programs for fine art and collectibles, environmental, real estate, community associations, hospitality, restaurants, executive lines and inland marine.
Distinguished enlisted the assistance of U.S. Recruiting Inc to recruit the Surety team.
